Vent system

ABSTRACT

This invention is directed toward a vent system comprising a base unit which attaches to a vent, a vent unit which is attached to the base unit by a plurality of adjustable screws, and, optionally, one or more removable sponge members or solid panels which are used to control and direct the air flow. The vent system can be removably attached to any vent from which air emanates, including fan outlets, heating outlets, and air conditioning vents. There are two basic mechanisms by which the invention controls and directs air flow: first, the adjustment screws allow for the space between the base unit and vent unit to be adjusted; second, the sponge members can be used to direct air flow. Because the vent unit is readily removable, different vent units, with variations in color, vent size, scent and other aspects can be changed at will.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not federally sponsored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the general field of air diverters, and morespecifically, toward a vent system comprising a base unit which attachesto a vent, a vent unit which is attached to the base unit by a pluralityof adjustable screws, and, optionally, one or more removable spongemembers or solid panels which are used to control and direct the airflow. The vent system can be removably attached to any vent from whichair emanates, including fan outlets, heating outlets, and airconditioning vents. There are two basic mechanisms by which theinvention controls and directs air flow: first, the adjustment screwsallow for the space between the base unit and vent unit to be adjusted;second, the sponge members can be used to direct air flow. Because thevent unit is readily removable, different vent units, with variations incolor, vent size, scent and other aspects can be changed at will.

Directing the flow of air has been important to human beings ever sincethe first fan was invented. As time progressed, humans began warming andcooling their buildings with heating and air conditioning units.Regardless of whether the air moving through a building is hot, cold, orjust room temperature air, it is desirable to control the flow. If a fanis being used to pump room temperature air into a room, it is oftendesirable to be able to direct the moving air toward a location wherepeople are often sitting. In cases of heating and cooling a building orroom, it is desirable to be able to control whether the hot or cold airis directed toward a particular part of a room or building, or whetherthe rapid and complete dispersal of the hot or cold air into the spaceis the goal.

No matter what the temperature of the forced air, humans have endeavoredto control and direct the flow. With portable fans, the person merelychanges the location, speed, direction of the fan, or sets in on anauto-rotate mode where the fan slowly rotates within a defined arc toforce air across a wide area.

With central forced air heating and cooling systems, and central forcedair fans, the forced air emanates from holes cut in the ceiling of abuilding or room. Traditionally, humans placed flat vent panels overthese holes, where the flat vents had two or more series of cuts made inthe metal or plastic making up the vent panel, where the cut portionswere then bent in an approximately 45 degree angle such that air rushingthe openings would be diverted to the sides of the opening.

This method has several shortcomings, however. First, the degree ofdeflection of the air stream, whether is it hot, cold, or roomtemperature air, is limited to the angle at which the cut portions ofthe vent panel are bent. Second, there is no option of diverting the airflow 90 degrees to any side as the cut panels need to be bent at somesort of angle to the vent panel; otherwise no air will flow throughthem. Third, there is no option to easily replace the vent panel withanother which may contain a different scent, color, or vent holearrangement.

Thus there has existed a long-felt need for a vent system which can beadjusted not only in terms of having air pass out the sides, at 90degrees to the ceiling, but also having the capability of diverting theair coming out of the vent at 90 degrees to the ceiling in a singledirection or multiple directions. There is also a need for avent-covering unit that can be replaced easily, and can be manufacturedfrom a variety of materials in number of different configurations withmany variables such that a user can quickly and easily customize thevent covering.

The current invention provides just such a solution by having a ventsystem comprising a base unit which attaches to a vent, a vent unitwhich is attached to the base unit by a plurality of adjustable screws,and, optionally, one or more removable sponge members or solid panelswhich are used to control and direct the air flow. The vent system canbe removably attached to any vent from which air emanates, including fanoutlets, heating outlets, and air conditioning vents. There are twobasic mechanisms by which the invention controls and directs air flow:first, the adjustment screws allow for the space between the base unitand vent unit to be adjusted; second, the sponge members can be used todirect air flow. Because the vent unit is readily removable, differentvent units, with variations in color, vent size, scent and other aspectscan be changed at will.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofmay be better understood, and in order that the present contribution tothe art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of theinvention that will be described hereinafter and which will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed hereinand other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention willbecome better understood with reference to the following description andappended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated inand constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a vent cover whichcan deflect air out of its sides, at an angle of 90 degrees to theceiling.

It is another principal object of the invention to provide a vent coverwhich can provide a number of variables to the user, and is easilyreplaced, such that a user can quickly customize the appearance andfunction of a vent cover.

It is another object of the invention that the invention be customizablewith respect to channel air in one or more specific directions.

It is an additional object of the invention that the invention allows auser to save money by allowing superior mixing of air in a room overconventional vent covers.

It is a final object of this invention to provide a vent cover that canbe used universally with any of the commercially popular vent.

It should be understood the while the preferred embodiments of theinvention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure ismade by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto arepossible without departing from the subject matter coming within thescope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof,which claims I regard as my invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device as attached to a ceiling.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device showing how the two mainportions are connected together.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device showing the natural flow of air whenthe device does not have deflectors or members diverting air flow.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device showing the flow of air when spongemembers are placed on all four sides.

FIG. 5 shows a variety of iterations of the invention with spongemembers and panels attached to the base unit and vent unit such that airflow is diverted into specific directions.

FIG. 6 shows side views of two iterations of the panel as a means toblock air flow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a (copy from above section). The invention in this iterationcomprises a base unit (1), attached to the ceiling by ceiling screws(2). The base unit (1) has a hole (8) in its center, shown in thisiteration as a rectangular hole, although circular, square andelliptical holes, as well as holes of other shapes, are contemplated.Surrounding the hole (8) is a lip (10). A vent unit (3) is attached tothe base unit (1) by vent screws (4). The vent unit also has sidedeflector units (6) which can be rigid or movable from a flat positionto one or more upright positions, with the upright position being shownhere, and bottom deflectors (5) which are ventilation channels in thecenter of the vent unit (3) which have either been bent at certainangles during the manufacture of the device and are fixed in place, orare adjustable. Air (9), which can be heated air, cooled air, or roomtemperature air, is forced through the hole (8). As the entire volume ofair forced through the hole (8) cannot easily pass through the bottomdeflectors (5), some of the air flows out the sides of the device, shownas arrows (7). The amount of air that flows laterally out of the devicecan be adjusted in several ways, including adjusting the angle of theside defectors (6), the angle of the bottom vents (5), and the amount ofdistance between the base unit (1) and the vent unit (3), which can beadjusted by screwing the vent screws (4) in or out.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device showing how the two mainportions can be connected together in a slightly different manner. Thebase unit (1) is laid up against the ceiling, and screw holes (24) inthe base unit are aligned with pre-drilled holes in the ceiling. Overthe base unit (1), the vent unit (3) is laid, with vent/base screws (21)which slide through casings (25) screwed into the ceiling to attach bothunits to the ceiling. The length of the casings (25) will determine thedistance between the base unit (1) and the vent unit (3), thereby makingthis distance adjustable. This figure also shows an iteration of theinvention where the bottom vents (5) are spaced slots in the bottom ofthe vent unit (3), thereby allowing a limited quantity of air to passthrough them, but not deflecting it to the sides.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device showing the natural flow of air whenthe device does not have deflectors or members diverting air flow. Inthis version, the side deflectors (6 in FIGS. 1 and 2) have been eitherlaid in a closed position or the vent unit (3) has been manufacturedwithout side deflectors. The base unit (1) is attached to the ceiling byceiling screws (2). The vent unit (3) is attached to the base unit (1)by vent screws (4) inside casings (25). As the air (30) is forcedthrough the hole (not shown in this figure), part of the forced air isforced through the bottom deflectors in a downward direction (31), whichthe rest of the air is forced out of the device through the sides (32).

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device showing the flow of air when spongemembers (40) are placed on all four sides. The invention contemplatestwo main devices which can completely block the escape of forced airfrom one or more sides: sponge members and flat panels. Sponge members(40), as shown in this figure, are long, rectangular pieces of spongymaterial which can be physically inserted (and removed) from locationsaround the hole (not shown in this figure). It is contemplated that thesponge members can be held in place by the side deflectors (6)manufactured or placed in an open, or upright, position, and the lip(10) of the base unit (1) surrounding the hole. With sponge members (40)placed around all four sides, the forced air (40) can only escapethrough the bottom vents in a downward direction (41).

FIG. 5 shows a variety of iterations of the invention with spongemembers and panels attached to the base unit and vent unit such that airflow is diverted into specific directions. FIGS. 5A and 5B show howplacing sponge members (40) and panels (50) on three sides directs allforced air which cannot escape through the bottom vents out one side(51). FIG. 5C shows how placing sponge members (40) on opposing sidesforces air out in opposite directions. FIG. 5D shows how placing panelson two contiguous sides forces air out the other two sides in anapproximately 180 arc.

FIG. 6 shows side views of two iterations of the panel as a means toblock air flow. FIG. 6A shows a rotatable side deflector (6) which canbe laid down in a closed position (62) inside a cavity (63) recessedinto the vent unit (3), set in an open position (60) for deflecting airpassing over it, or set in a panel or blocking position where it is laidup against the lip (10) to block the exit of forced air in itsdirection. The side deflector (6) is attached to the vent unit (3) by apin (64) about which it rotates, where the pin (64) extends from one endof the cavity (63) to the other, and is secured into the vent unit (3)on either side of the cavity (63).

1. A vent system comprising a base unit, where the base unit is designedto be attached over an open air duct, and where there is a hole in themiddle of the base unit, and where there is a lip around the hole, and avent unit, where the vent unit is designed to be attached to, though notnecessarily the same size as, the base unit, where the vent unit isdesigned to be attached to the base unit by means of screws, and bottomdeflectors, where the bottom deflectors are in the middle of the ventunit, where the bottom deflectors are designed to divert air in variousdirections when air flows from the open air duct and through the baseunit, and side deflectors, where the deflectors are attached to the ventunit, where the side deflectors are designed to divert or block air whenair flows from the open air duct through the base unit and out the sidesbetween the vent unit and the base unit.
 2. The vent system of claim 1,where the side deflectors are permanently attached to the vent unit in afixed position, and where the side deflectors are designed to divert airaway from the vent system and parallel to the surface that the base unitis attached to.
 3. The vent system of claim 1, where the side deflectorscan be adjusted after the vent system is attached over an open air duct,where the side deflectors have a range of movement, where the range ofmovement ranges from a position where the side deflectors lay flatagainst the surface of the vent unit to a position where the non fixedends of the side deflectors come in contact with the lip around the holeof the base unit.
 4. The vent system of claim 3, where the sidedeflectors are attached to the vent unit by means of a pin-joint.
 5. Thevent system of claim 1, further comprising one or more sponge members,where the sponge members are placed between the vent unit and the baseunit to block the flow of air in a specific direction.
 6. The ventsystem of claim 5, where the sponge members are manufactured to dispersea particular scent.
 7. The vent system of claim 1, further comprisingone or more panel members, where the panel members are placed betweenthe vent unit and the base unit to block the flow of air in a specificdirection.
 8. The vent system of claim 1, where the vent unit ismanufactured to be a specific color or transparency.
 9. The vent systemof claim 1, where the vent unit is manufactured to disperse a particularscent.
 10. The vent system of claim 1, where there is a variabledistance between the vent unit and base unit, where the distance isadjusted by screwing the screws connecting the vent unit to the baseunit in or out.
 11. The vent system of claim 1, where the bottomdeflectors are designed to block the flow of air therefore forcing theair out the side of the vent between the vent unit and the base unit.12. A vent system comprising a base unit, where the base unit isdesigned to be attached over an open air duct, where there is a hole inthe middle of the base unit, and where there is a lip around the hole,and where the base unit has base unit screw holes, and a vent unit,where the vent unit has screw casings, where screws can slide throughthe screw casings, where the screw casings are designed to line up withthe base unit screw holes, and where the vent unit can be attached to,though not necessarily the same size as, the base unit, and where thevent unit is attached to the base unit by means of screws that are slidthrough the screw casings and through the base unit screw holes, andwhere the vent unit and base unit can be attached over an open air ductby means of the screws, and bottom deflectors, where the bottomdeflectors are in the middle of the vent unit, where the bottomdeflectors are designed to divert air in various directions when airflows from the open air duct and through the base unit, and sidedeflectors, where the deflectors are attached to the vent unit, wherethe side deflectors are designed to divert or block air when air flowsfrom the open air duct through the base unit and out the sides betweenthe vent unit and the base unit.
 13. The vent system of claim 12, wherethe side deflectors are permanently attached to the vent unit in a fixedposition, and where the side deflectors are designed to divert air awayfrom the vent system and parallel to the surface that the base unit isattached to.
 14. The vent system of claim 12, where the side deflectorscan be adjusted after the vent system is attached over an open air duct,where the side deflectors have a range of movement, where the range ofmovement ranges from a position where the side deflectors lay flatagainst the surface of the vent unit to a position where the non fixedends of the side deflectors come in contact with the lip around the holeof the base unit.
 15. The vent system of claim 14, where the sidedeflectors are attached to the vent unit by means of a pin-joint. 16.The vent system of claim 12, further comprising one or more spongemembers, where the sponge members are placed between the vent unit andthe base unit to block the flow of air in a specific direction.
 17. Thevent system of claim 12, further comprising one or more panel members,where the panel members are placed between the vent unit and the baseunit to block the flow of air in a specific direction.
 18. The ventsystem of claim 12, where the vent unit is manufactured to be a specificcolor or transparency.
 19. The vent system of claim 12, where the ventunit is manufactured to disperse a particular scent.
 20. The vent systemof claim 12, where the sponge members are manufactured to disperse aparticular scent.
 21. The vent system of claim 12, where there is a setdistance between the vent unit and base unit, where the distance isdetermined by the length of the screw casings.
 22. The vent system ofclaim 12, where the bottom deflectors are designed to block the flow ofair therefore forcing the air out the side of the vent between the ventunit and the base unit.